Inspirational Chicken Bus-Themed Colorful Paper Magnet - Folk Marvel

Artisan Organization: Gaby Briz

Country: Central America

"I'm Gaby Briz from Guatemala. At around the age of 11, my parents separated, and I stayed with my father. During that time, I became very close to my grandmother. From a young age, she taught me the value of sharing and caring for others. She had a deep connection to a small community in Sacatepequez known as La Embaulada. She first encountered this community after the 1976 earthquake through one of the many foundations she was involved with. She was so taken by the people that she donated school supplies to the local school every year. Even after her passing in 2001, her children and grandchildren continued this tradition, and last year marked 47 years of supporting education in this community. Our support for the Embaulada community has grown over time, and we now assist more than 100 students with school supplies, materials for teachers, and administrative support. We, six cousins, love to visit as a family because it allows us to feel close to my grandmother, Tere. As we now have children, we take them along to teach them what our grandmother taught us.

"My journey into crafting and design began early in my life. I later pursued a degree in Graphic Design, and this led me to establish a print shop. At my print shop, we take on various special projects that require meticulous manual work, patience, and dedication. The process of creating these products requires patience and dedication. I use materials such as paper, cardboard, cardstock, magnet sheets, and spirals, which are readily available from local distributors in Guatemala.

"I'm proud to be Guatemalan, and it's this pride that inspired me to create products that promote love and a sense of pride for our country. Through my print shop, I met several talented illustrators from Guatemala, and that's when I contacted HopeAzul to collaborate on the artwork for our products. His art has been the face of our products since we started in 2017. All of the illustrations showcase aspects of Guatemala. These artworks evoke nostalgia in Guatemalans living abroad and introduce the beauty of our country to people around the world.

"The first product I produced was a set of flashcards with a Guatemalan theme. This idea was born when my first child arrived, and I realized that there was a lack of educational materials related to Guatemala. I wanted my child to grow up learning about the incredible things in our country. The positive response to the illustrations led me to expand my product range to include notebooks, magnets, and notepads.

"While my life has had its share of challenges, I consider myself a positive person who seeks solutions in the face of adversity. Work is of great importance to me because it allows me to take charge of my present and future. My dream is to grow as an entrepreneur so that I can spend more time with my children and continue to help more people. Outside of work, I love spending time with my children, visiting museums and art exhibitions, especially those featuring contemporary art, and exploring new places. I feel fortunate to make a living doing something I love. What I enjoy most about my work is disconnecting from the world and immersing myself in the creative process. It brings me immense peace.

"We've participated in the Guatemala Book Fair three times, and on two occasions, we won the award for the best stand in our category. In 2019, we made a donation to Lichutam, a foundation dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty among indigenous people in the Polochic region through education. We raised funds by conducting two craft workshops for children, where the entrance fee was a voluntary donation to the foundation. We also donated a portion of our sales during the Guatemala Book Fair that year." "